Liquid crystal display panel device with a removable reinforced protective transparent panel

Abstract

A liquid crystal display panel device includes a face panel unit, a reinforced protective transparent panel, and an engaging unit. The face panel unit includes a hollow panel base, front and rear transparent electrode layers disposed in the panel base, and a liquid crystal active layer disposed in the panel base between the front and rear transparent electrode layers and operably associated with the front and rear transparent electrode layers. The reinforced protective transparent panel is disposed in front of the face panel unit and parallel to the front transparent electrode layer, and serves to protect the face panel unit. The reinforced protective transparent panel has at least one pair of opposing peripheral portions. The engaging unit retains removably the peripheral portions of the reinforced protective transparent panel on the panel base.

1 . A liquid crystal display panel device, comprising: 
 a face panel unit including a hollow panel base, front and rear transparent electrode layers disposed in said panel base, and a liquid crystal active layer disposed in said panel base between said front and rear transparent electrode layers and operably associated with said front and rear transparent electrode layers;    a reinforced protective transparent panel disposed in front of said face panel unit and parallel to said front transparent electrode layer for protecting said face panel unit, said reinforced protective transparent panel having at least one pair of opposing peripheral portions; and    an engaging unit including at least two engaging members provided on at least two opposite sides of said panel base, each of which retains removably a respective one of said peripheral portions of said reinforced protective transparent panel on said panel base.    
   
   
       2 . The liquid crystal display panel device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said engaging members is formed with a retaining groove to engage the respective one of said peripheral portions of said reinforced protective transparent panel.  
   
   
       3 . The liquid crystal display panel device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said peripheral portions of said reinforced protective transparent panel include upper, lower, left and right peripheral portions, 
 at least three of said upper, lower, left and right peripheral portions being retained removably on said panel base by respective ones of said engaging members.    
   
   
       4 . The liquid crystal display panel device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said peripheral portions of said reinforced protective transparent panel include upper and lower peripheral portions that are retained removably on said panel base by respective ones of said engaging members.  
   
   
       5 . The liquid crystal display panel device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said peripheral portions of said reinforced protective transparent panel include left and right peripheral portions that are retained removably on said panel base by respective ones of said engaging members.  
   
   
       6 . The liquid crystal display panel device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each of said engaging members has a mounting portion mounted to said panel base, and a retaining portion that extends from said mounting portion and that is formed with said retaining groove.  
   
   
       7 . The liquid crystal display panel device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said retaining portion includes a pair of retaining plates that define said retaining groove therebetween.  
   
   
       8 . The liquid crystal display panel device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said engaging unit further includes screw fasteners for mounting removably said mounting portions of said engaging members to said panel base.  
   
   
       9 . The liquid crystal display panel device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each of said engaging members has a connecting portion, a retaining portion that extends from said connecting portion and that is formed with said retaining groove, and a resilient anchoring portion that extends from said connecting portion and that engages said panel base.  
   
   
       10 . The liquid crystal display panel device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said resilient anchoring portion includes a pair of spring arms, each of which has a distal barb end to engage removably said panel base.  
   
   
       11 . The liquid crystal display panel device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said retaining groove has a non-rectangular shape and is defined by a first inner wall surface, a second inner wall surface extending inclinedly from said first inner wall surface, a third inner wall surface extending from said second inner wall surface and transverse to said first inner wall surface, and a fourth inner wall surface extending from said third inner wall surface and parallel to said first inner wall surface.  
   
   
       12 . The liquid crystal display panel device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said retaining groove has a non-rectangular shape and is defined by a first inner wall surface, a second inner wall surface extending from and transverse to said first inner wall surface, a third inner wall surface extending inclinedly from said second inner wall surface, and a fourth inner wall surface extending from said third inner wall surface and parallel to said first inner wall surface.  
   
   
       13 . The liquid crystal display panel device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said retaining groove has a non-rectangular shape and is defined by a first inner wall surface, a second inner wall surface extending inclinedly from said first inner wall surface, a third inner wall surface extending from said second inner wall surface and transverse to said first inner wall surface, a fourth inner wall surface extending inclinedly from said third inner wall surface and disposed opposite to said second inner wall surface, and a fifth inner wall surface extending from said fourth inner wall surface and parallel to said first inner wall surface.  
   
   
       14 . The liquid crystal display panel device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said engaging members has a mounting portion mounted to said panel base, and a retaining portion that extends transversely from said mounting portion and that presses the respective one of said peripheral portions of said reinforced protective transparent panel against said panel base.  
   
   
       15 . The liquid crystal display panel device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said engaging unit further includes screw fasteners for mounting removably said mounting portions of said engaging members to said panel base.  
   
   
       16 . A liquid crystal display panel device comprising: 
 a face panel unit including a hollow panel base, front and rear transparent electrode layers disposed in said panel base, and a liquid crystal active layer disposed in said panel base between said front and rear transparent electrode layers and operably associated with said front and rear transparent electrode layers;    a reinforced protective transparent panel disposed in front of said face panel unit and parallel to said front transparent electrode layer for protecting said face panel unit, said reinforced protective transparent panel having at least one pair of opposing peripheral portions; and    an engaging unit formed integrally on said peripheral portions of said reinforced protective transparent panel and engaging removably said panel base.    
   
   
       17 . The liquid crystal display panel device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said peripheral portions of said reinforced protective transparent panel include upper, lower, left and right peripheral portions, 
 said engaging unit including a flange unit that extends integrally from at least three of said upper, lower, left and right peripheral portions.    
   
   
       18 . The liquid crystal display panel device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said peripheral portions of said reinforced protective transparent panel include upper and lower peripheral portions, 
 said engaging unit including a flange unit that extends integrally from said upper and lower peripheral portions.    
   
   
       19 . The liquid crystal display panel device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said peripheral portions of said reinforced protective transparent panel include left and right peripheral portions, 
 said engaging unit including a flange unit that extends integrally from said left and right peripheral portions.    
   
   
       20 . The liquid crystal display panel device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said engaging unit includes a flange unit that extends integrally from said peripheral portions of said reinforced protective transparent panel and that is disposed to surround said panel base, 
 one of said flange unit and said panel base being formed with a rib unit,    the other of said flange unit and said panel base being formed with a groove unit to engage said rib unit.